DRAMA: Police at the suspect Mick Snelling’s home in Burnholme Grove, York [PA]

Mick Snelling, 59, was arrested in North Shields, Tyneside, during an 8am raid on the home of his mother, who went into care two months ago.

The swoop followed a cold case review of the five-year-old mystery. Mr Snelling used to be a researcher in the science labs at York University where Claudia worked in the kitchens.

He was in charge of maintaining animals used in biology experiments at the time the 35-year-old cook vanished in March 2009. He was later made redundant.

Mr Snelling is also said to be a regular customer in the Nag’s Head pub near Claudia’s cottage in Heworth, York.

“Mick used to work at the university as a researcher but he was made redundant”

Anonymous source

Since leaving the university he has worked as a project co-ordinator for the York branch of mental health charity Mind, and last year appeared in his local newspaper launching a campaign to help the long-term unemployed come to terms with being out of work.

Mr Snelling was among a series of locals questioned previously by police about the mystery, and his home and garden in York are understood to have been examined before.

Last night police forensic teams were conducting a search of his property, which could take a number of days. His blue Ford Focus was seized and taken away to a laboratory for tests.

Officers were also searching the home of his 84-year-old mum Dorothy in North Shields, where Mr Snelling was detained.

Police have not ruled out making further arrests in the coming days.

MISSING: Claudia Lawrence vanished in 2009 [PA]

Yesterday a source who knew Claudia well said: “Mick used to work at the university as a researcher but he was made redundant.

“He’s a nice enough bloke and quite chatty. He’s football mad and goes to Newcastle every other weekend to watch the matches. It’s a real shock.”

Neighbours in York said Mr Snelling, who is single, had lived in the street for 15 years and was known locally as Geordie Mick. Retired electrician Terry Ellis, 74, said: “He always seemed pleasant.”

Pensions manager Martin Fairburn, 40, added: “The house is in a right state but you wouldn’t call him scruffy.”

Next-door neighbour Adam Wadsworth, 19, a music production student, said: “I know the house looks bad but he was always smartly dressed.

“It is all a horrible shock.”

One woman neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “The police arrived at around 7am but I didn’t see anyone being arrested.

“Mike has lived there for years. I can’t believe he’s got anything to do with this.”

Neighbour Joyce Turnbull, 77, whose house backs on to the property, claimed to have seen police digging at the rear.